Edict on Gay Marriages: Do Them or Quit Clergy Fear They Are Next Family Action Coalition release Clergy from across the nation are deeply concerned that their religious freedom will be violated with the same "Edict" imposed upon the Marriage Commissioners of B.C. On behalf of Clergy nationwide Dr. Charles McVety, President of Canada Christian College and Canada Family Action Coalition calls for Prime Minister Paul Martin to fulfill his promise to protect the religious rights

Exploding Myths about the Episcopal Church Crisis By Diane Knippers I have been invited to place the current crisis in the Episcopal Church in a larger context, first to look at the cultural context and then the context of the wider church. I want to expose three myths. Myth one: The recent experimental ethics of the Episcopal Church represents the future. Myth two: The Episcopal Church’s recent actions indicate concern for the oppressed. Myth three: Those of us who dissent f

Bishop Seeks Calmer Tone In Episcopal Controversy Howe supports working for traditionalist change within existing church. By Cary McMullen Ledger Religion Editor WINTER PARK — While the controversy in the Episcopal Church continues to boil across the country, Bishop John Howe is attempting to turn down the heat in the Diocese of Central Florida. In his first public remarks since he signed the charter of a new network for traditionalist Episcopalians on Tuesday, Howe addressed

"Clergy are being threatened, vows of allegiance to the Episcopal Church are being exacted (even while international excommunications are rising), and canons are being misused to take over dissenting biblically orthodox churches. It is religious persecution, widespread, and it must be opposed." The Rev. Geoff Chapman, St. Stephen's, Sewickley, PA. Dear Brothers and Sisters, Another new development in the worldwide realignment of the Anglican Communion has just begun. It is th

The Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes A statement from Bishop James M. Stanton DIOCESE OF DALLAS My Brothers and Sisters in Christ The Charter conference held in Plano is now concluded and the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes has been established. It was unanimously agreed to by the bishops and representatives of the dioceses noted, and by representatives of parishes in other dioceses concerned to preserve the unity of the Church within th

By Michael J. McManus Three different groups competed behind the scenes to persuade President Bush to take different stands on marriage in his State of the Union. Ironically, none came away satisfied but all were pleased to some degree. Appetites were whetted by a page one Jan. 14 New York Times story that began: "Administration officials say they are planning an extensive election-year initiative to promote marriage, especially among low-income couples, and they are weighing

By Julia Duin THE WASHINGTON TIMES Published January 22, 04 ORLANDO, Fla. — Famed film actor and producer Mel Gibson told 5,000 pastors yesterday that "there will always be opposition" to films on the Gospel, "but you have to stand your ground and slug it out." Mr. Gibson also told the gathering of evangelical and charismatic Christian clergy at Calvary Assembly of God Church that he was grateful for their "spiritual support." The pastors had assembled for a showing of his so

by J. Budziszewski "Are you Professor Theophilus?" I turned. "That's me. Come in." "My name's Lawrence. I'm gay. I came to complain about your talk about constitutional liberties yesterday. It was bigoted and homophobic. I'm filing a formal protest to the people who run the Student Union speakers series." At least he's direct, I thought. I waved him to a seat. "Help me out, Mr. Lawrence. How could—" "Just Lawrence." "Thank you. Now how could my talk have been 'bigoted and hom

From the Office of the Bishop of the Diocese of Southwest Florida January 21, 2004 Dear Friends in Christ, Unfortunately, there is confusion regarding the reported involvement of the Bishop and the Diocese of Southwest Florida in the establishment of the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes. It is my conviction that these are extraordinary times demanding clarity from all those engaged in the leadership of the Church. Due to recent comments by members of the Am

Why the Realignment of Anglicanism is Sadly Necessary Part 4: The Bible: Relevant or Irrelevant? by the Rev. David A. Handy, Ph.D. The first three parts of this series have set forth some of the many reasons why the dramatic realignment now underway in Anglicanism is so sadly necessary. In this, the fourth segment, I will begin to drive home my main thesis: the clear and consistent teaching of Scripture and Tradition must not be set aside and overturned on the basis of dubiou

Why the Realignment of Anglicanism is Sadly Necessary Part 1: Politically Correct or Theologically Correct? Why It’s an Either/Or by the Rev. David A. Handy, Ph.D. Years ago the great church historian Jaroslav Pelikan made the famous comment that the Protestant Reformation was “a tragic necessity.” Protestants, he noted, who take the necessity of the Reformation for granted, tend to underestimate what a terrible tragedy it was. On the other hand, Pelikan said, Catholics, who

By Dr. Joseph P. Murphy “Some of the last shall be first and some of the first shall be last,” easily grips us as poetically just, one of the many ironies of the spiritual life as the human approaches the divine. Recently the Episcopal theologian Ephraim Radner has written a Parable of the AMiA, in which he refers to the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) as a movement in the Church seeking autonomy without accountability, even as it seeks to be obedient in the face of the sp

In the Name of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. The recent unilateral actions of the Episcopal Church in the United States (ECUSA) in consecrating a bishop who is sexually active outside marriage, and the recognition of same-sex blessings have created a deeply painful and divisive situation and devastated our Christian witness. In the light of Tradition, it reveals a misinterpretation of the clear witness of God's Word and a deaf ear to t

Missionaries will be certified for orthodoxy The Most Reverend Frank Tracy Griswold Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the USA 815 Second Avenue New York NY 10017 USA 8th January 2004 Dear +Frank, This comes with a prayerful greeting from the Southern Cone in Jesus’s name. As you can see from the attached statement, the decision of ECUSA to consecrate Gene Robinson, a person sexually active outside marriage, and to declare by resolution that same-sex blessings are "

By John Yates The following sermon was delivered before several thousand orthodox Episcopalians at the recent Plano East gathering in Virginia. January 10, 2004 At the very heart of the conflict within the Episcopal Church is a single, simple question that all who believe in Jesus Christ must answer for themselves. Are the Scriptures true? Can we be assured that what we read in the Bible is true? When the original authors wrote the various portions of Scripture, did they writ

"Episcopal Church has begun a new religion" "Ecclesiastical action against me logically incomprehensible" By the Rev. Joseph P. Murphy Ph.D. January 21, 2004 To: The Rt. Rev. Peter J. Lee, The Rt. Rev. David Jones, The Rt. Rev. Francis Gray Mayo Memorial Church House, 110 W. Franklin St., Richmond, VA 23220 Dear Bishops Lee, Jones, and Gray, At the gathering of clergy you convened this past fall at Christchurch School to discuss the actions of General Convention 2003, I made

News Analysis By David W. Virtue Episcopal Church revisionists have begun to spin the Network document presented at Plano this past week, with the Episcopal Church's leading homosexual revisionist Dr. Louie Crew announcing that he was surprised by its "tameness." "They did not even insist on 'alternate' or 'alternative' episcopal oversight, only on 'adequate' (the term used by the primates at their meeting in London last October)," writes Crew who sits on the church's Executi

By Elizabeth Day January 25, 2004 One of British medicine's most senior advisers on medical ethics has provoked outrage by claiming that infanticide is "justifiable." Professor John Harris, a member of the British Medical Association's ethics committee, said that it was not "plausible to think that there is any moral change that occurs during the journey down the birth canal"—suggesting that there was no moral difference between aborting a fetus and killing a baby. The profes

By The Rev. Charles H. Nalls Special to The Christian Challenge (Washington, DC) January 23, 2004 There was a decidedly young face to the tens of thousands of pro-life demonstrators filling the streets of downtown Washington yesterday. From a throng estimated at between 100,000-200,000 marchers, a deafening roar went up as a speaker asked all under the age of 25 to make themselves known. Americans and others from around the world including a visible and vocal delegation from

The Nation (Nairobi) All Africa News January 15, 2004 OPINION By Francis Ayieko NAIROBI--Recently, the Uganda Anglican Church withdrew an invitation to the Episcopalian Church of the US to attend the ordination of the Right Rev Henry Orombi as the country's new archbishop. He will be enthroned on January 25. After this, there should be no doubt that there is now an open split between the liberals and the conservatives in the 450-year old Anglican Communion. The unprecedented